Flag of Afghanistan - Description of the Afghanistan Flag
As the
above picture of the Afghanistan Flag indicates the background is
tri-color - Red, Black and Green
The flag
pictures three equal vertical bands of black (hoist), red, and
green, with a gold emblem centered on the red band
According to
Ancient and Heraldic traditions much symbolism is associated
with colors. The colors on the Afghanistan flag represent the
following:
Red -
hardiness, bravery, strength & valour
Green -
hope, joy and love and in many cultures have a sacred
significance
All Flag
pictures depict flags flying, from the viewer's point of view,
from left to right
The shape and flag ratio of the Afghanistan flag is described as 1:2 ( length twice the height )
The
gold emblem on the Afghanistan flag pictures a temple like
structure encircled by a wreath with an Islamic inscription
above
The Meaning
& History of the Afghanistan Flag - The Flag of Afghanistan
was adopted in by the transitional government in 2002 and
pictures the Shahada at the top of the coat-of-arms in the
center
The
center emblem is the classical Emblem of Afghanistan, one of a
mosque with it's Mihrab facing Mecca
Flag
Terminology - Did you Know ?
The design and description
uses specific flag terminology based on Heraldic principles
Animal blazons should always appear
with the heads facing the flag - staff side
The Study of the Flags is called
Vexillology
Your interest in flags makes you a
Vexillologist!
Increase your knowledge - Play the
Flag Quiz
Flag History &
Evolution:
The idea of
flying a flag grew from the requirements of ancient warfare and
the battlefield
Shields were
painted with emblems to identify Friend or Foe
Warriors
needed to know where their leaders were - the custom of carrying
a pole was adopted
An emblem
such as a shield, animal or religious device was attached to the
pole for identification
The emblems
were also used for identity and to cover suits of armour - Coats
of Arms were born
These
emblems were the forerunners of modern flags
The Romans
were the first to use a cloth flag - they were square and
fastened to cross bars at the end of spears - the idea of
fastening a flag to the side of a pole soon followed
The strict
rules of Heraldry are still used when designing an emblem and
creating a modern flag
Afghanistan
Flag Etiquette
Afghanistan Flag etiquette is very strict and is is
essential that Flag protocols and rules are followed correctly
Basic
Flag
Etiquette applies to all nations, including Afghanistan as follows:
Etiquette relating to the order of
precedence for the flag
National Flag of
Afghanistan
State Flag of
Afghanistan
Military Flag of
Afghanistan (in order of creation date)
Other Flag of
Afghanistan
The United Nations uses alphabetical order
when presenting a national flag including the Afghanistan Flag. Their flag etiquette ensures
that no one country's flag has precedence over another country's
flag
The
National flag of
Afghanistan should never be flown
above another national flag on the same staff as this would
suggest superiority, or conversely, inferiority of one flag, or
Nation, over another
The Afghanistan flag should never be allowed to drag
along the ground
A tattered or faded flag of
Afghanistan should be removed
and replaced with a new flag
Due care and
consideration must be taken to ensure that the Afghanistan flag is
always
flown the correct way up
A Flag of Afghanistan, when in such
condition that it is no longer a fitting emblem of display,
should be destroyed in a dignified way, preferably by burning in
private with all due care and respect
Terminology & Etiquette in Afghanistan Flag display
Hoist - the
act or function of raising the Afghanistan flag, as on a rope
Half Staff
or Half Mast - the Afghanistan flag is hoisted to half of the potential
height of the flag pole to denote grief and mourning
Performed
by first raising the Afghanistan flag to the top, then lowering the
Afghanistan Flag halfway
Distress -
denoted by flying the Afghanistan flag upside-down
Manner of
hoisting - The Afghanistan flag should be hoisted briskly and lowered
ceremoniously
No
disrespect should be shown to the Afghanistan flag
The Afghanistan flag
should never be fastened, displayed, used, or stored in such a
manner as to permit the Flag to be easily torn, soiled, or damaged in
any way
The Afghanistan
flag should never have placed upon it, nor on any part of it,
nor attached to it any mark, insignia, letter, word, figure,
design, picture, or drawing on the flag of any nature
The
Afghanistan flag should be hoisted first and lowered last
International Flag relating to
Afghanistan
Flag usage forbids the
display of the flag of one nation above that of another nation
in time of peace
We hope that the presentation of facts
and information regarding Afghanistan Flag Etiquette has
provided a useful resource.
Afghanistan
Location:
Southern Asia, north and west of
Pakistan, east of Iran
Land Size of
Afghanistan : 647,500 sq km
Climate / Weather
of Afghanistan : arid to semi-arid; cold winters
and hot summers
Population of
Afghanistan : 28,600,000
Former Name(s) :
Republic of Afghanistan
Capital City of
Afghanistan : Kabul
GDP of Afghanistan
: $20 billion
Main Industries :
small-scale production of textiles, soap, furniture, shoes,
fertilizer, cement; handwoven carpets; natural gas, coal, copper
Main Colors of
Afghanistan Flag : Black, red and green
Commonly mis-spelt
as Afganistan
Concise History of
Afghanistan
Alexander
the Great used Afghanistan as the gateway to India
700's -
Islamic conquerors
1300 -
1400's - Genghis Khan and Tamerlane conquered the
country
1839–1842 Anglo-Afghan war
1878–1880
Anglo-Afghan war
1893 UK
established an unofficial border separating Afghanistan from
British India
1919
Afghanistan became independent
1926 Emir
Amanullah founded an Afghan monarchy
1950's
Afghanistan developed close ties with the Soviet Union during
the cold war
1978
Military coup Afghanistan became a Marxist regime
1979 Soviets
launched an invasion of Afghanistan
1989 Soviet
withdrawal
1992 Islamic
rebellion - in-fighting between rebel groups
1996 A group
of Islamic students calling itself the Taliban seized control of
Kabul
1996 The
Taliban took over the government of Afghanistan but the
government was only recognised by Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and
the United Arab Emirates
August 20,
1998, U.S. cruise missiles struck a terrorist training complex
in Afghanistan believed to have been financed by Osama bin Laden
September
2001 anti-Taliban guerrilla leader Ahmed Shah Masoud of the
group referred to as the Northern Alliance was killed by suicide
bombers
September 11
2001 - Taliban terrorists - al-Qaeda members - attacked New
York's World Trade Center Towers and the Pentagon
October 7
2001 - The Taliban refused to turn over Bin Laden and the U.S.
and its allies began daily air strikes against Afghan military
installations
December 7
2001 - the Taliban regime collapsed
December
2001 - Afghanistan interim government formed
June 2002 -
Hamid Karzai became President
2002 - 2003
- Peacekeeping forces entered the country
March 2003 -
US Offensive against Kandahar and al-Qaeda members
August 2003
- NATO assumed command of peacekeeping troops
January 4,
2004 - New constitution introduced
April 2004 -
US Offensive along the Pakistan border against al-Qaeda members
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The
Flag and Nation of Afghanistan
We hope that the presentation of facts
and information regarding the Flag and Country of Afghanistan has
provided a useful educational resource. To improve your knowledge
of Flags and Vexillology still further check out the Flag and Nations
Index and test your knowledge with our
interactive, multi-choice, picture-based Flag Trivia Quiz Game - it's fast and
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